Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 6th Week in Ordinary Time – Saturday – Mark 9:2-13

After promising that some would not taste death before seeing the Kingdom of God coming into power, Christ leads His “inner circle” (Peter, James, John) up a “high mountain” (traditionally, Mt. Tabor) to witness the Transfiguration (“to change the shape of”). The Transfiguration is a supernatural event of immense significance in which God in the Trinity is made manifest.

Christ is “transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them”; like His Father, Christ is “light from light” with a holiness beyond earthy possiblity and He allows His divinity to be revealed to the Apostles. Christ summons Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the prophets) to bear witness that He perfectly fulfills all Law and Prophecy in the New Covenant. Confirming His Divinity, the Holy Spirit appears as a cloud and the Father confirms, “This is My Beloved Son; listen to Him.”

Stunned, confused and frightened because they have encountered God; Peter wants to to make three booths, perhaps to prolong the heavenly experience. Suddenly, after the Father speaks, Jesus remains alone. Christ reconfirms that He will be risen from the dead and that the Apostles are not to disclose His transfiguration until then. The Apostles, struggling to understand, refer to prophesy which claim that Elijah must come before the Messiah. Cryptically, Christ confirms that Elijah has come; later, the Apostles will come to understand that John the Baptist was the new Elijah.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Person of the Trinity, Christ is joined by the Father and the Holy Spirit at the Transfiguration. Son of God, Christ confirms His authority over the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).  Divine King, Christ strengthens Peter, James and John for the coming ordeal of the Crucifixion by revealing His divinity in a physical way. Divine Prophet, Christ predicts His coming Passion and Resurrection and confirms the identity of John the Baptist as the new Elijah.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Marvel that Christ, the greatest leader of men, specially gathers and forms His inner core through the Transfiguration to confirm His Divinity to them and strengthen them for the coming ordeal of the Passion.

2) While for many men the Holy Spirit is mysterious and distant and fleeting (like a cloud!), He continuously draws men to the Father and Christ Jesus. Meditate upon the Holy Spirit (CCC 683-747) and pray for the Spirit to be your daily companion.

3) Living with bodies prone to gravity, disease and age, it is hard to imagine what our resurrected bodies might be like. Review the “Resurrection of the Dead” (CCC 988-1019) and  pray for Christ to help you prepare for your coming resurrection.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Blessed Virgin Mary

Virtue of the Day – Hope

Corporal Work of Mercy – To bury the dead

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To pray for the living and the dead